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Matildas captain Sam Kerr wasn’t sure if she would play any part in her team’s FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.
Football star Sam Kerr has written a heartfelt message to Aussie fans following the nation’s loss to England in the Women’s World Cup semi-final.
The Matildas captain took to Instagram to reflect on the joys and sorrows of a historic night in Australia’s football history.
The Tillies take on Sweden in a 3rd place playoff in Brisbane on Saturday.
Having injured her calf the day before Australia’s opening Group B match against Ireland, Kerr admitted she was relieved to have been able to play at least some part in the Cup after missing the Matildas’ first three matches.
“Me being the stubborn person I am, I thought I was going to play the next day (after suffering the injury,” Kerr said.
“I feel massive relief that I’ve been able to step on to the park.
“It was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I’ve never had a muscle injury, so I didn’t know what I was feeling, how long it was going to take … at some point in the tournament I was thinking I might never play in this World Cup, but I was lucky enough that I was able to get back.
“Now it’s just the icing on the cake that I could step on the park and help the girls.”
Sam Kerr feared she would miss the whole World Cup. Picture: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
If the ‘icing on the cake’ was Kerr’s wonder-goal in Australia’s 3-1 semi-final loss to England, the cherry on top would be a Matildas win over Sweden to secure third spot and go one better than they did in finishing fourth at the Tokyo Olympics.
“We want to win the bronze medal,” the Chelsea striker said.
“To bring a World Cup medal would be amazing. It really feels like we have brought the nation together over football.
“It feels like we’ve done something amazing for the country … but there is definitely work still to be done.”
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson echoed Kerr’s sentiments in saying there was some unfinished business to take care of against Sweden, the nation of his birth.
It means that Gustavsson won’t let sentiment get in the way of team selection, promising to pick the best possible side on Saturday night.
“I can’t pick (a team) based on emotions,” Gustavsson said.
“This is a third-placed game – we’re playing for a medal. I’m going to make sure we have a line-up that is the strongest line-up we can have, but also the strongest finishing line-up.
“I’m going to plan what I think is best for the team in this one game, and not look at it as a bigger picture than that.
“It’s not about giving players experience just for the sake of giving experience. This is a game to win.
“We have gone with a strategy where we think relationships and continuity in tournaments is key. It’s just a strategy we believe in.”
However, a certain omission is key defender Alanna Kennedy, who has been ruled out with delayed concussion.
Kennedy also missed the Matildas’ midweek loss to England, but the reason given by team officials at that stage was that her absence was due to “illness”.
“Alanna has had her best tournament ever for the national team,” Gustavsson said.
“(But) the players have been tremendous in adapting to what’s been thrown at us. There have been some curve balls in this tournament.”
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